Dimensional Model Components: Dimensions Part I - Page 3

January 24, 2008

Review Database Dimension Properties

We can modify, or even delete, a Database
dimension by using the Dimension Designer within the Business
Intelligence Development Studio. Lets take a look at the properties in
place for a Database dimension within our new sample UDM by
taking the following steps.

1.
Within the Solution
Explorer, right-click the Product dimension (expand the Dimensions
folder as necessary).

2.
Right-click
the Product dimension.

3.
Click Properties
on the context menu that appears, as to shown in Illustration 8.

Illustration
8: Select Properties from the Context Menu ...

The Properties
pane appears for the Product dimension. (The Properties pane
likely appeared already, by default, below the Solution Explorer. The
design environment can, of course, be customized in many ways to accommodate
your local environment and development needs.)

We can
see the two Object Model properties for the Product dimension
within the Properties pane. These are, quite simply, Object ID
and Object Name. The Properties pane for the Product Database
dimension appears as depicted in Illustration 9.

Illustration
9: The Properties Pane for the Product Database Dimension

Object
Name can be
modified within the Solution Explorer by simply using the Rename
selection within the context menu that we accessed in the last step above.

We will
extend our examination of dimensions yet further in the second half of
this article, where we will examine Cube dimensions and the more
numerous properties that are associated with them.

NOTE: Please consider saving the
project we have created to this point for use in the second half of this
article, as well as for subsequent related articles within this subseries, so
as to avoid the need to repeat the preparation process we have undertaken
above.

4.
Select File
-> Save All to save our work, up to this
point, within the originally chosen location, where it can be easily accessed
for Part II of this article, as well is for other articles within this
subseries.

5.
Select File
-> Exit to leave the design environment,
when ready, and to close the Business Intelligence Development Studio.

Conclusion

In this, Part
I of a two-part article, we began a subseries of several articles focusing
upon dimensional model components, with an objective of discussing the
associated concepts, and of providing hands-on exposure to the properties
supporting each. We began with an introduction to the dimensional model
and a discussion of its role in meeting the primary objectives of business
intelligence. Next, we introduced dimensions in general, including the
two primary dimension types within Analysis Services, Database
dimensions and Cubedimensions.

As a means of distinguishing the two types of dimensions,
we examined both within the design environment. We compared the Database
dimension type to the Cube dimension type, and explained differences
in the number of each occurring within our sample model. We then reviewed the Properties
associated with a Database Dimension, based upon the examination of a
representative dimension within our sample UDM. Finally, we
looked forward to the second half of this article, where we explore the general
concepts and properties (including what they define and support, and how
we can manage them) underpinning Cube Dimensions.